Mikel Arteta is enjoying Arsenal being the great entertainers - but insists they can get even better. The reigning champions have started the season in real style with three straight wins in the Premier League and they have played free-flowing football.
Arsenal were christened Set Piece FC last season because they were so good at scoring from corners and free kicks but all of their goals this term have been from open play.
Arteta sets flair target
Arteta says that is down to having the likes of Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz back to form and full fitness but he has set a target to play with more “flair” this season.
They face Sunderland on Saturday night on the back of an impressive Champions League win at Napoli when they dominated but only had Odegaard’s goal to show for their dominance.
Gunners boss Arteta says he wants his players to be more efficient and ruthless with their finishing as they look to defend their title. Arteta, whose side travel to Sunderland on Saturday night, said: “I like a lot what I’ve seen from the team so far.
“For sure, it’s for flair but also just making sure what happens on the pitch is what we want. And having that dominance and control and threat in our minds.
“It’s the way we have to continue and evolve in certain areas and that is an area that we have put a lot of emphasis into and now we have a lot of players back.
“The opportunities and synergies that we create with the team are much stronger and we’re going to continue to be like that. That’s always the intention.
“Sometimes it’s the level of the opponents, sometimes the level of execution and that has to increase as well to be much more efficient and dominant throughout the games and we will continue to do that.”
Odegaard and Havertz key
Arteta has been fulsome in his praise for captain Odegaard who looks back to form, fitness and sharpness after an injury-plagued couple of seasons.
Odegaard scored the winner at Chelsea last Sunday, again at Napoli in the Champions League in midweek and Arteta also says Havertz’s return has also been key.
Arteta says Havertz’s intelligence means he is ahead of everyone else on the pitch and therefore it is difficult to pin down his best position.
Arteta said: “The best position is in relation to what the game demands and what the team demands on the day. To be as efficient as possible, as unpredictable as possible. Kai is extremely intelligent, that's his biggest quality.
“He understands the game, he's five, ten seconds ahead of the game, he knows what he's having, he doesn't need to think about it, he just acts. And he just makes the people around him better, which is another massive quality.
“On top of that, he's scoring goals, he's producing chances, his work rate, as we all know, is just outstanding. And he's in a great emotional state at the moment.”
Konsa impresses
Arteta also praised the impact of one of the club’s new summer signings as Ezri Konsa - who joined in a £55m deal from Aston Villa - has looked at home immediately.
Arsenal were held to a 2-2 draw at Sunderland last season and their back four is certain to be tested again with Arteta insisting Konsa’s personality and defensive abilities have been key.
Arteta added: “Well, it's certainly something to admire because it's not easy at all and you should not take it for granted. But after talking to a lot of people that have worked with him, whether staff members or players, I already had a sense the way everybody was talking about him.
“That he's a person that is great at gathering people together. He has a real personality, a lot of leadership skills.
“And you saw the first day, he just trained the way he was talking, the way he was presenting himself. It was very impressive and so far he's done a really good job.”
